The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) and New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) are going to host a Bledisloe Cup match in Hong Kong.  Their aim is to exacerbate the growth of the 15-a-side version of the game in Hong Kong.  The concept's viability is based on the success of the Hong Kong Rugby 7's tournament.

Therefore, since Rugby League is fast and exciting like Rugby 7's, the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) could use this to spread the game of Rugby League to Hong Kong.  It might help the RLIF prevent the International Rugby Board (IRB) from monopolising the market in Hong Kong.

You know something 3 lions, every time i hear about union doing this or that i cringe. Why.!   Because i think about what they are showing the people around the world then i look and think now league has already got work to do because of our name being rugby. We need to start taking games around the world ourselves and promoting in these big cities.

Just glad we have our world cup this year because if we didn't, then union would be the only game out there getting unprecidented coverage. League needs to stand up and compete with union on the world stage and take some real contests like the world club challenge, make it a real spectacle and even promote the kangaroos as being the greatest ever world cup winners. Take some tests to these countries and show them that this is what league is like. We have a longer history in world cups but we dont utilize this fact.

I have just seen a promotion ad for union on fox sports and they said everyinternational game live and all the super 14 live into our living rooms. This is where league has to go head to head with the media and say if we dont get the same coverage then we are not interested in your coverage.Maybe we need to do a deal with sentana here in australia. Get the fox to take notice of who watches what.

Yeh why not oikee, get league played in all parts of the world. Have test matches played in the likes of Japan and Hong Kong, couldnt hurt, maybe even idia or china.

I would have Dubai as a destination, and yes China, i think they would take well to league, the one thing we have to keep going is America also, what we need to do is build on the rabbits rhinos thing, take some other teams over there so we dont sit back and rely on 2 teams trying to crack a huge market.

If someone thinks about what the rabbitoes said that other states were interested in holding the game. Why not have some more teams do the same, that way they can have many games played at the one time on australia day in different venues. We need to promote not just the rabbits and rhinos, if they think they are the only teams doing this then we have no vision. Get the broncos storm tigers and saints over there pre season, and all the english teams that want to help out, sure they could all at least break even at the right grounds.?

Maybe use all the u.s.a teams grounds so to help them promote as well.? and a couple at other states where they want to have them there in the future, its a small window but at least it is a start?

RL has been recently played in the Mid east and Lebanon are taking on the UAE in a few weeks time.

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China is a biggun, yeh. Imagine if RL could establish itself over there, think how many talented players would be found. Just think if we can get RL on TV in china even if only 1 in every 1000 people watched it that would still be a hell of olot of people, same goes with india, they dont really have an off season game for cricket. Anyway Lebanon have made good progress in the middle east and i see UAE are starting up this year, good news. Can anyone tell me, do UAE have any plans for a domestic comp in the near future?

I would suspect that UAE does, but its gonna take time, like with everything. There probably will be many ex-pats playing in it and that'll bring in the locals.

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Nothing wrong with having a few ex-pats there to get the ball rolling, as you say the locals will come eventually.

Seen this one?

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,23405232-5006066,00.html

 

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I'm all for exporting the WCC. The success that was Leeds vs Souths game in Florida proves that if the game is marketed correctly than it can be a huge success. The States, Dubai and Singapore might be an idea as well as they are all trying to develop RL. The only thing that would worry me slightly is the cost of going to watch your side on the other side of the world. Mind you, I'm a Warrington fan so I don't think there's much chance of me booking flights for a while anyway.

Ahhh that explains the name. Whats the significance of 83 then? Look as a sharks fan I think I am in the same boat as you. :( lol

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Druzik:

Ahhh that explains the name. Whats the significance of 83 then? Look as a sharks fan I think I am in the same boat as you. :( lol

Cheer up druzik, this might be the sharkies year, 2 games, 2 wins and both against last years Grand Finalists, now that's a good start to a season.

Druzik:

Seen this one?

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,23405232-5006066,00.html

 

If the World Club Challenge (WCC) is expanded into a six team competition between the three best clubs from the National Rugby League (NRL) and European Super League (ESL), then both leagues need to revamp their final's system so that they can determine which teams deserve to play in the competition.  The champions and grand finalists from the NRL and ESL ought to be there, as they are the two best teams from their respective leagues.  A "Third Place Playoff" between the losers of the NRL Grand Final qualifiers would allow the NRL to give the winner the chance to play in the WCC.  The same format would be used by the ESL.

The champions of the NRL and ESL would play each other in the penultimate match of the World Club Challenge.  The losing grand finalists from the NRL and ESL would play each other to determine 3rd and 4th spot of the WCC.  The winners of the Third Place Playoff matches from the NRL and ESL would compete for 5th and 6th spot

oikee:

You know something 3 lions, every time i hear about union doing this or that i cringe. Why.!   Because i think about what they are showing the people around the world then i look and think now league has already got work to do because of our name being rugby.

A lot of people do not understand the difference between Rugby League and Rugby Union.  The latter is the more globalised, commonly known code.  Few people around the world are exposed to Rugby League.  As a result, only a few people outside of Australia, New Zealand, UK and France know about its existence.

Perhaps it is time for the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) to change the sport's name, promote it around the world, and set up more international competition.

oikee:

Maybe we need to do a deal with sentana here in australia. Get the fox to take notice of who watches what.

It would be good to see the Queensland Cup, NSW Cup, Bartercard Cup, French league and Papua New Guinea League on Setanta Sports.

England 3 Lions:

It would be good to see the Queensland Cup, NSW Cup, Bartercard Cup, French league and Papua New Guinea League on Setanta Sports.

Well E3L i have e-mailed ABC, SBS, fox and setanta and urged them to give us some RL coverage from around the world, so you and some other people should get on to them and back me up, power in numbers.